Chat Specials

April Special Welcome to the April issue of Chat Monthly! We’ve got another whopper for you, stuffed with bargain fashion, tasty recipes, fab home buys and top beauty and book picks. Not forgetting our fun puzzles and incredible real-life reads. You’ll find broody Silvia, who whips up babies in her kitchen oven (p52). There’s brave Sarah, whose home security camera caught her man doing something truly vile (p6). And Jessica, who invested in creating her dream body – only to have it put at risk due to a pesky bumble bee (p32). And that’s just the start. Have a great month!…

We got to feed a capybara at the amazing Wild Discovery at Ribby Hall Village. Their capybara experience is an incredible thing to do. This was mine and my fiancé Pete’s birthday present to each other. Elysia Benn, Barrow-in-Furness Even the breathtaking views of the Welsh countryside on our canal-boat holiday couldn’t distract the in-laws Kathy and Llew from their favourite mag! Diana Roberts, Purton Douglas, the 1-year-old cockapoo, prefers to wear his frisbee than play with it! Sally Leigh, Manchester My 5-year-old grandson Teddy is loving life. He’s always smiling and making us laugh. Here he is after a bath with Gelli Baff, which turns into goo in the water. He insisted on putting his face in it, too, and as you can see, loved making a mess! Tracy…

Sarah Jones, 39, Aberdare Flour covered my kitchen, the sweet smell of sugar filling the air. I stepped back and admired my latest creation, a sticky jam-filled sponge cake, as my boyfriend Dan, then 34, sidled up beside me. ‘Looks delicious,’ he said. And with a cheeky squeeze of my bum, I knew exactly what he was after. It was October 2021 and we’d been dating for four months, after meeting on a dating site. I’d just come out of a 19-year relationship, wasn’t looking for anything serious. But Dan and I bonded over our love of indie music, both had two kids. Taking things slow, we met once a week for lunch. After two months, we became intimate. ‘Let’s be a couple,’ Dan said. Now, things between us were…

4 OUTFITS UNDER £50 Total outfit cost £48 Top tip Wide-leg styles look smarter than cuffed joggers. THE TRACKSUIT A wardrobe must-have, comfy co-ords are the ultimate choice for chic, easy weekend wear. Perfect for everything from lunch dates to strolls, a cream tracksuit strikes the perfect balance between comfort and style. Pair with trainers and opt for tonal accessories to elevate the look, for a luxe, polished appeal. Total outfit cost £47.98 Top tip Add a clutch bag to take this look from day to night. THE STRIPED SHIRT This timeless design is a versatile staple in any wardrobe. The classic long sleeves work effortlessly with everything from skirts to relaxed denim, offering endless styling possibilities. Dress it up with stylish mules, or roll up the sleeves and wear…

Katie Underhill, 26, Warwick Pottering about our bedroom, I noticed my partner Dean across the room, fidgeting and nervous. We’d been out for a meal and, 26 weeks pregnant, we were back home getting ready for bed. Suddenly, Dean, then 22, was down on one knee, presenting me with a gorgeous silver ring, with a solitaire diamond. ‘Marry me?’ he asked. I beamed, my hands flying to my bump. ‘Yes!’ I said, thrilled. ‘We’ll have our own little ring bearer page, too.’ Such a special moment. But our future was more uncertain than it looked. It was March 2019, and a month earlier, we’d found out that our unborn son was seriously ill. A ‘shadow’ had been detected on the scan, and further tests revealed serious heart problems. The valves…

Glenda McGinty, 44, Strabane, Co Tyrone Shifting in the hard seat, I tried to find a comfy position. Squashed in, I wriggled around. My back sore, my tummy rubbing against the steering wheel. But it was where I’d be for the next 12 hours. In my job as a bus driver, I’d travel the same route in Strabane, picking up familiar faces, sharing a friendly smile with them. What they didn’t know was that it was just a brave face. Really, I couldn’t wait to get home where I lived alone. I’d draw the curtains, hide away and do the only thing that numbed the pain. It was 2006, and although I’d been a bus driver for five years, I hadn’t always had to squeeze myself into that seat. In…